diff --git a/scripts/release b/scripts/release
index 9f2b04ab..13167346 100755
--- a/scripts/release
+++ b/scripts/release
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 
 set -e # exit when error
 
-if [[ -n $(npm owner add `npm whoami`) ]]; then
+if ! npm owner ls | grep -q "$(npm whoami)"
+then
   printf "Release: Not an owner of the npm repo, ask for it"
   exit 1
 fi